Combination rotary drilling machine



Sept. 9

R. F. HILL ET AL COMBINATION ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE Filed Febf. 19 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTOR5 Sept. 14 1926. 1,599,890 I R. F. HILL ET AL uBINA'rIou. ROTARY DRILLING mourns:

Filed Feb. 19 192 4 Shoots-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Sept. 14 1926.

R. F. HILL ET AL COMBINATION ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE Fi led Feb. 19 1924 4 Sheets-Shae}; 3

mvlu'rons Sept. 14 1926.

R. F.I1H L ET AL COMBINATION ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19

4 ShcpQa-Sheet 4 INVENTOR5 Patented Sept. 14, p 1926.

UNITED STATES I 1,599,890 PATENT OFFICE.

ROWLAND F HILL AND FREDRICK J. SCHWIMMER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE NATIONAL SUPPLY COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COMBINATION ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE.

Application filed February 19, 1924. Serial No 693,773.

Our invention relates to combination rotary well-drilling machines.

Some of the objects of our invention are to produce a rotary drilling machine wherei in a hydraulic feed attachment may be used for controlling the feed of standard rotary drilling tools; wherein the said attachment is removable so that any size of casing or bit within the capacity of the machine may be passed through the rotary table, and standard table bushings and drivers may be used; and wherein the said attachment may be used for applying pressure to the drill-stem or for relieving it from pressure while in working position. Other novel objects are to provide a rotary drilling machine with which diamond and standard rotary bits may be used and with which provision is made for transmitting more than one speed to the drill-stem, so that diamond bits, for example, may be driven at a higher speed than the other bits.

We may also provide separate means for driving the machine either from a drawprovidemeans whereby the hydraulic feed attachment may be used with the type of rotary machine which is adapted to the making and breaking of the joints of well casing or tubing or drill-pipe and whereby it may be used as a jack for starting strings of casing or tubing which have become stuck in the well. It is among our objects to place the hydraulic cylinders or their equivalent belo'vt the table top, leaving the latter free so that standard casing or other wrenches can be used above the table. Another object is 'to provide means for adjusting the range of the said hydraulic feed attachment and for the ready removal of the hydraulic attachment with its thrust bearings in one piece. Further objects will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of our machine; Fig. 2, a central vertical section thereof, some of the parts being in elevation; Fig. 3, a horizontal section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section onthe same line, but containing a modification; Fig. 5, a central vertical section of a modification showing a means for adjusting the stroke of the hydraulic moving parts; Fig. 6, a central ver tical section showing a modification for use with a fish-tail bit; Fig. 7, a central vertical works or directly from a prime mover. We

section showing a modification for use in is bolted, this base having on its upper face antifriction rollers 3 on which the metal rotary drill-table 4 rests. The depending flange 5 on the bottom of the table surrounds the adjacent portion of the base and prevents any transverse horizontal movement of the table relative to the base. The table has symmetrically arranged around its axis of rotation a large polygonal opening 6, in which the similarly shaped metal bushing 22 fits, the latter resting on the inwardly extending shoulder 7 in the table. The base 2 has a circular vertical opening 8 concentrically arranged around the prolonged axis of the table, the latter having a registering opening in alinement with the polygonal opening 6.

The lower side of the base 2 has a downwardly open annularhydraulic chamber 9 having the inner wall 10 and the outer wall 11. Vertically movable in the opening 8 and in contact with the wall thereof is the annular plunger or ram 12, having at its lower end the outwardly extending flange 13 to which is secured a number of piston rods 14 extending up into the chamber 9 and connected to the annular piston The bottom of the chamber 9 is closed by the annular plate 16 having openings for the pistons 14 and carrying the packing gland 17.

On the top of the ram 12 rests the ring 18 supporting the roller-bearings 19, on which the lower face of the-swivel-head 20 of the driving-stem 21 rests, the driving stem extending up through the bushing 22 and having a polygonal shape to fit the similarlyshaped hole 23 in the bushing. A ring 24, between which and the upper face of the head 20 is the roller-bearing 25, is bolted to the lower ring 18, only one bolt, 26, being shown. The hydraulic feed attachment, comprising the rings 18 and 24', the rollerbearings 14 and 25, the head 20, the stem 21 and the clamp 27 to be described presently, is secured detachably to the ram 12 by bolts (only one, 28, being shown) which extend down through the rings 18 and 24 and into the ram. he stem 21 has an axial opening 29 from end to end. the-opening containing the drill-stem or pipe 30, which carries a diamond bit 31 at its lower end. The drill-stem 21 has at its upper end the flange or head 32 on which the two clamp members 33 rest. The members 33 have at each end a hook 34 which engages under the flange 32 and against the face of the square stem 21. The members are arranged at opposite sides of the stem 21 and are drawn tightly against the drill-stem 30 by the bolts 35, whereby thestem 30 is rigidly connected to the hydraulic feed attachment. The rings 18 and 24 fit the opening 8 and help stiffen the walls of the hydraulic chamber 9. By removing the bolts 28 (only one shown) this attachment may be drawn up through the table opening.

The table 4 has on its lower face near its periphery the gear teeth 36 with which the bevel pinion 37 on the drive-shaft 38 meshes, this having bearings in the journal-boxes 39 on the bed 40 supported by the sills 1. The shaft 38 has loosely rotatable thereon the two sleeves 41 and 42 carrying respectively the spur-gears 43 and 44. The sleeve 41 carries the sprocket gear 45 by which it may be driven from any suitable source of power. The shaft 38 has thereon the clutch member 46 slidable on the shaft but rotatable therewith. The member 46 has at each end a dental clutch-face capable of engaging with corresponding clutch-faces on the adjacent ends of the sleeves 41 and 42, so that the member 46 can drive either sleeve at the will of the operator by his moving the member 46 by means of the lever 47. The frame 40 has the bearings 48 for the shaft 49 to which the gears 50 and 51 meshing respectively with the gears 43 and 44 are secured, the gear 51 being larger than the gear 44. lVhen the lever 47 is actuated to engage the clutch member 46 with the sleeve 41, the shaft 38 is driven at a speed suitable for rotating the table 4 for drilling with a fish-tail bit; and when the lever 47 is actuated to engage the member 46 with the sleeve 42, the shaft 38 is driven at a faster speed, for example, twice as fast, for drilling with a diamond bit.

Although our hydraulic mechanism may be used for standard drilling with fish-tail hits, it is particularly valuable for drilling with diamond bits, where the pressure on the drill-bita'equires to be somewhat relieved when the weight on the same exceeds a certain amount. It may be advisable to apply some downward pressure to the drill-stem when the weight on the diamond bit is below a cerlain amount. To effect these purposes, we apply hydraulic pressure to the chamber 0 above and below the piston 15, 52 being the upper port and 53 the lower port, pressure bring applied through one port and relieved through the other in a manner well known to hydraulic engineers.

With the parts as shown on Fig. 2, but with the clutch member 46 in engagement with the sleeve 42, power applied to the sprocket-gear 45 drives the table 4, the bushing 22, the driving-stem 21 and the drillstem 30 at a rapid speed suitable for diamond drilling. Hydraulic pressure may be applied through the port 52 to increase the downward pressure on the drill-stem 30'and it can be applied through theport 53 to relieve the downward pressure on the drillstem in an evident manner. After the drillstem has descended until the piston has reached the bottom of its stroke,'the drillstem 30 is supported by any suitable means, the clamp 33 is loosened and pressure is ad mitted through the port 53 which moves the piston 15 to its upper limit, the hydraulic feed attachment sliding up on the drill-stem at the same time. The clamp 33 is ti htened on the stem 30 and the drilling is resumed.

54 is a hold-down device attached to the base 2 and having its end 55 in the annular groove 56 in the table 4 to keep the latter from tilting or moving upwardly.

Instead of having the annular chamber 9 we may provide a number of separate hydraulic cylinders 57 having separate pressure chambers 9 containing separate piston rods 14 as shown in Fig. 4. We provide the sides of the cylinders 57 next to the ram 12 with arcuate bearing surfaces 58 which contact with the outer surface of the ram to guide the same.

In Fig. 5, we show the lower ends of the walls 10 and 11 provided with the rings or walls 10 and 11 in alinement therewith and closed at the bottom by the plate 16 integral with the rings 10 and 11*. The parts in Fig. 5 are otherwise as in Fig. 2 except that the piston-rods 14 are longer than the piston-rods 14, and that the ram 12 is made longer so as to engage the ring 18, to compensate for the depth of the rings 10 and 11 Fig. 5 shows the stem provided. with a fish-tail bit 59.

In Fig. 6, we show a fish-tail bit 59 having its stem 60 held to rotate with the table 4 by means of the slips 61 in the table bushing 22 This view shows how fish-tail drilling may be carried on in the usual manner in an equipment containing our hydraulic ram 12.

In Fig. 7, we show a rotary table equipped with our hydraulic feed attachment modified for use with a wrench for making and break ing the joints of easing, tubing, and the like, The table 4 is provided with the hinged post 62 which drives the wrench 63 attached to a pipe length 64 being turned in the coupling 65 which is connected to the pipe 66 and rests on the slips 61, adapted to prevent the pipe 66 from rotation. The slips 61 are supported in the attachment 67 bolted on the top of the ram 12 and having its upper end preferably flush with the top of the table 4. It is also seen that the hydraulic mechanism can be used to lift the pipe 66 and such other lengths of pipe as may be connected thereto. Occasionally a string of pipe becomes stuck and our improvements provide a ready means for starting the string. Regardingthe stem 30 in Figs. 1 and 2 as representin a string of casing or tubing, the hydrauhc attachment is seen to be readily adapted to lift or start the string upwardly. The hydraulic attachment in these figures is seen to be readily usable to start stuck drilling strings.

We claim- 1. A rotary table, a base therefor having a vertical opening, a drill-turning means, a

hydraulic mechanism, a non-rotatable extension thereof in the opening and supporting the drill-turning means, and means whereby the table may rotate the drillturning means.

2. A rotary 'table, a base therefor having a vertical opening, a drill-turning means, a hydraulic mechanism, a non-rotatable extension thereof in the opening and supporting the drill-turning means, means whereby the table may rotate the drill-turning means and a swivel connection between the drill-turningmeans and the extension.

3. In a well-drillin machine, a rotary table and a base there or having a vertical opening, a hydraulic mechanism having a non-rotatable ram operable vertically in the opening, a drill-turning means in the opening, connections between the hydraulic mechanismand the drill-turning means whereby the latter may move vertically with the former and rotate independently thereof, and means whereby the table may rotate the. drill-turning means.

4. In a well-drilling machine, a rotary table and a base therefor having a vertical opening, a hydraulic mechanism, a- .non-fl rotatable ram extending therefrom into the opening, a drill-stem in the opening, a driver for the drill-stem swiveled to the hydraulic mechanism but connected to move vertically therewith, means for rigidly connecting the driver to the drill-stem, -and means causing the table to rotate the driver.

5. In a well-drilling machine, a rotary table and a base therefor having a vertical opening, a hydraulic mechanism having a ram movable vertically in the opening, two s aced sets of. annular horizontal anti-friction bearings secured to the ram, -a drillstem in the opening, a hollow drill-stem driver having flan turning between the said bearings, a drill-stem in the hollow of the driver and secured thereto, and driving means between the table and the driver.

6. In a well-drilling machine, a. rotary table and a base therefor having a vertical 0 ening, a hydraulic mechanism having in t e opening a vertically-movable element wholly below the top of the table, a drillstem in the opening, a drill-stem driver surrounding the drill-stem and movable vertically by the hydraulic mechanism and extending above the top of the table, means above the table clamping the drill-stem to the driver. and means whereby the table ro tates the driver.

7. In a well-drilling machine, a rotary table and a base therefor having a vertical opening, a hydraulic niechanismhaving a vertically-movable element in the opening, and an attachment removably connected to the said element to prevent relative vertical and rotary movements of the attachment and the element, the attachment containing a drill-stem driver having a horizontal flange, a pair of antifriction bearings for the upper and lower surfaces of the flanges, and means for connecting the two bearings together, whereby the attachment is a single removable unit.

8. In a Well-drilling machine, a rotary table and a base therefor having a vertical opening, a drill-stem in the opening, an annular hydraulic chamber in the base surrounding the opening, an annular piston in the chamber, and a vertically-movable element in the opening operable by the piston and means supported by the said element for controlling the feed of the drill-stem.

9. In a well-drilling machine, a rotary table .anda base therefor having a vertical opening, a drill-stem in the opening anannular hydraulic chamber, an annular piston in the chamber, and a vertically-movable element in the opening operable by the piston, means supported by the said element for controlling the feed of the drill-stem, and means whereby the length'of the chamber may be changed to provide for pistons having different lengths of stroke;

10. In a well-drilling machine, a rotary table and a base therefor having a vertical opening, a drill-stem in the opening, an annular hydraulic chamber in, the base surrounding the opening, an annular piston in the chamber, and a vertically-movable element in the opening operable by the piston, means supported b the said element for controlling the feed of the drill-stem, and rings attached to the end walls of the chamber to increase the length of the'chamber, whereby the length of piston stroke may be increased. 1

11. In 'a well-drilling machine, a rotar table and a base therefor having a vertica opening, a hydraulic mechanism having a vertically-movable non-rotary element there-' in, means rigidly attached to the said element and rotatable fOISIlPPOIlZing a pipe or rod and preventing it from rotation, and a post carried by the table for driving a wrench attached to such pipe or rod.

12. In a well-drilling machine, a rotary table and a base therefor having a vertical opening, a hydraulic mechanism, and a ram extending therefrom into the opening from beklflmw and terminating below the top of the ta e.

13. In a well-drilling machine, a rotary table and a base therefor having a vertical opening, a hydraulic mechanism, and a ram extending therefrom into the opening, the hydraulic mechanism and the ram being Wholly below the top of the table.

14. In a well-drilling machine, a rotary table and a base therefor having a vertical opening, a drill-stem in the opening, an annular hydraulic chamber, an annular piston in the chamber, and a vertically-movable element in the opening operable by the piston, and means supported by the said eleincnt for controlling the feed of the drillstem, the axial center line of the chamber '20 and the rotary table being in the same vertical line.

In testimony whereof We hereunto affix our signatures .this 14th day of Feb. 1924.

ROWLAND F. HILL. FREDRICK J. SCHWIMMER. 

